Beck awaits serve on contract

- Henry Schulman, OF THE EXAMINER STAFF

Published 4:00 am, Sunday, July 6, 1997

This could be a career year for closer Rod Beck, and it couldn't come at a better time. When the season is over, he'll be 29 and a free agent. The contract he signs this winter could be the most lucrative he'll ever get.

Beck set a team record with 48 saves in 1993, and he's only 19 short of that now with 75 games to play. If Beck stays healthy and the Giants stay in contention, he'll have a good chance to break his mark. As of now, even Bobby Thigpen's major-league record of 57 is not out of reach.

"If we continue to play the way we're playing, winning by a little and losing by a lot, I suppose there'll be opportunities and the ball will be in my court," Beck said in honor of Wimbledon. "If we go out in the second half and win games by five or six runs I won't have a chance. All I can do as a closer is save the best percentage of games that I can."

During spring training, general manager Brian Sabean said the team had no desire to begin contract talks until after the season. Beck could now storm into Sabean's office with a "sign me now or pay me a lot more later" ultimatum, but he's not approaching it that way.

"The contract thing was put to rest in spring training when they told me and my agent they weren't going to renegotiate before the season's over and they get an idea of what kind of team they have. Now they have a pretty good idea and the ball is in their court," Beck said.

"I'd think they would want to do something, but I'm just going to concentrate on winning."

NOT SO FAST: The recent stories about William VanLandingham's possible move to the bullpen after the All-Star break didn't consider one factor: his success at Los Angeles, where the Giants start the second half. In his career he's 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA there. Thus, manager Dusty Baker said, VanLandingham will probably start one of next weekend's games at Chavez Ravine.

Beyond that, Baker is loaded with options for the fourth and fifth starter spots. He could keep VanLandingham in the rotation and pick Doug Creek or Keith Foulke as his No. 5 man, or he could go with Foulke and Creek. Meanwhile, Sabean continues to search for another pitcher via trade.

ETC.: Jeff Kent was 1-for-10 lifetime against Steve Reed before his game-winning hit against Reed Saturday. . . . After Kent's hit, Barry Bonds was thrown out at home when he tried to score from second on an errant pickoff throw to first that flew into right field. . . . The Giants are 30-23 since they took over first place on May 11. . . . Jose Vizcaino is batting .333 over his last 13 games and has an eight-game hitting streak.&lt;